The NSW Government has introduced a code of practice on managing psychosocial hazards at work. The code focuses on the duty to manage psychosocial hazards at work and who is responsible, how to respond to a psychosocial hazard at work, and how to support a safe return to work following a work-related harm. 

#nsw #people 

10 June 2021

Have you heard about the NSW Government's plan to develop the Greater Sydney Parklands? Local councils and park managers with be working with Greater Sydney Parklands to refresh existing parkland areas in Centennial Parklands, Western Sydney Parklands, Parramatta Park, Callan Park and Sydney’s newest parkland Fernhill Estate with a focus on sustainability. Have your say by responding to the White Paper by 5 July 2021. 

#people #pipeline #procurement #practice #nsw

10 June 2021

Guide on the implementation of VIC engineers registration scheme

The Victorian Government is introducing new arrangements from 1 July to register individuals providing certain professional engineering services in Victoria, or for Victoria. The new arrangements will be implemented through a staged process, so we have prepared a member guide to help you understand if, how and when you will be impacted.

Read the guide on our business services page (under 'law and ethics') here - member log-on required.

10 June 2021

#vic #practice #people

PRESENTATION SLIDES - Design & Building Practitioners Scheme

Matt Press at ConstructNSW recently presented to members on the Design and Building Practitioners Scheme. This comprehensive presentation covered; registration, usage of the ePlanning Portal, the ‘educational’ approach of Fair Trading in the first 3-6 months and the move to digital assurance. The presentation is now available for your information and don't forget to check the NSW Fair Trading site for the latest information.

8 June 2021

#nsw #practice #procurement

Review of designated area migration agreements

The SA Department of Innovation and Skills consulted on its review of designated area migration agreements (DAMA). Our submission to the review highlights; key occupations missing from the DAMA, the need for an increase to the age threshold for our industry as well as key barriers facing our members using DAMAs.

8 June 2021

#sa #people #pipeline #practice #procurement

Engaging with Infrastructure Tasmania

With the announcement of Martin Blake as the CEO of Infrastructure Tasmania, we secured a presentation to our Committee on the workplan of Infrastructure Tasmania. We have also secured monthly meetings with Infrastructure Tasmania and Department of State Growth to build collaborative relationships between government and industry.

8 June 2021

#tas #pipeline #people #practice #procurement

NT Industry capability statement

We have produced an Industry Capability Statement for NT which sets out how our members can provide local and on the ground experience in the NT. It demonstrates that Consult Australia members have a diverse range of service capabilities across a range of sectors than can be mobilised locally.

8 June 2021

#nt #people #pipeline #practice #procurement

Election Policy Platform

In the lead-up to the 2021 WA State Election we developed, in consultation with members our policy platform covering the areas of people, procurement, pipeline and practice. This platform will assist in our upcoming discussions with the re-elected government. You can read a snapshot or the full version of our platform.

8 June 2021

#wa #people #pipeline #practice #procurement

Submission to Productivity Commission

We submitted to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into SA's regulatory framework, advocating for the use of standardised contracts, reasonable insurance requirements and better procurement practices. You can read our submission here. Despite the terms of reference for the Inquiry being broad and was said to cover 'any government policy', the Productivity Commission recently responded that procurement matters were out of scope. We will continue to advocate on these issues in Australia as they extend beyond procurement and are business critical issues.

8 June 2021

#sa #people #pipeline #practice #procurement

2021-22 Victorian State Budget

We have prepared a member-only summary of the 2021-22 Victorian State Budget (available here). While mental health and health reforms were the overall narrative of the budget, infrastructure and the broader built environment pipeline of projects was once again a big winner with investments growing further to an average of $22.5 billion per year over the forward estimates. Let James, our Victoria Manager, know if you have any questions on the budget.

20 May 2021

#vic #pipeline #people #practice #procurement

Labour hire licensing

In 2020, the ACT parliament passed the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2020, joining QLD, SA and VIC to licence labour hire providers. Noting that the Act is broadly drafted and could capture arrangements used by Consult Australia members, such as secondments we advocated for sensible exemptions to the Act for our members. Our preferred approach was that taken in SA, which exempts entities whose core business is not labour hire. While the ACT government did provide for an exclusion for professional service workers who earn over a certain threshold, we remain concerned about the application of the scheme to our members. We continue to advocate for a more comprehensive exemption.

17 May 2021

#act #practice #people

 

 

Defence Estate Policy Webinars

After the success of its 2020 program of webinars, Defence Estate are doing it again in 2021. Find out what policies and projects are steering the Estate Governance and Integrity System (EGIS). Check the Estate Webinar site which is updated regularly with new webinars and recordings of past events. For example, webinars in May include a case study of Smart Infrastructure and the EGIS system and a look at the Building Works Manual from a project perspective.

7 May 2021

#procurement #practice #pipeline

Proposed fees for VIC engineers registration scheme

We have made a submission to the Victorian Department of Justice and Community's consultation on the proposed fees and Regulatory Impact Statement for the Professional Engineers Registration Scheme. We continue to advocate for 'one fee, one registration' arrangements across the country, and also call for a similar approach for professionals needing registration in multiple disciplines.  Please get in touch with James if you have any questions.

4 May 2021

#vic #people  #practice 

 

Partner with the NSW Government to host a trainee

The NSW Government has designed a new traineeship in the infrastructure industry for Year 12 school leavers. The two year government funded program will see candidates combine NSW Government and industry experience to develop a rounded view of the infrastructure sector as a whole.

The traineeship is office-based, where each candidate will spend 8 month rotations with a consultancy business, a government agency and a contracting business. Trainees will also study one day per week to complete a Cert III or Cert IV in courses such as project management and procurement.

The NSW Government is seeking support from consultants to partner and host trainees, particularly those with regional offices in Penrith, Wollongong, Grafton, Dubbo, Parkes, Lismore, Wagga and Newcastle. This is a great opportunity to further your commitment to supporting NSW's young people and provide career pathways into infrastructure for the future of our industry and the next generation of school leavers. Read the flyer or watch this video for more information, and when you are ready, register here.

10 April 2021

#nsw #people

Insurance and contract terms key barriers to supplying to government

The NSW government wants to make it easier for small and medium businesses to sell to NSW government, with the Small Business Commissioner calling for submissions on the key barriers. Consult Australia’s submission stressed how insurance obligations and contract terms were the key barriers for our small business members. We talked proportionate liability, fitness for purpose, liability caps and warranties as examples of onerous contract terms. Contact Kristy to discuss the onerous contracts you’ve seen (whether from private or public clients).

9 April 2021 

#nsw #procurement

Loss of independence with Building Queensland move

The Queensland government’s proposal to move Building Queensland within the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning is currently before parliament as part of the Debt Reduction and Savings Bill 2021. Consult Australia opposes the move, noting that the cost saving of $1 million by the move is a valuable investment in infrastructure independence.

9 April 2021

#qld #people #pipeline  #practice #procurement